THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT – 2005 1. WHAT IS RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT 2005 ? The Government of India has enacted "The Right to Information Act 2005" which has come into effect w.e.f. 12.10.2005 to provide for setting out the practical regime of right to information for citizens to secure access to information under the control of Public Authorities in order to promote transparency and accountability in the working of Public authorities. 2. WHAT DOES RIGHT TO INFORMATION MEAN ? It includes the right to access to the information which is held by or under the control of any public authority and includes the right to inspect the works, documents, records, take notes, extracts or certified copies of documents or records and take certified samples of the materials and obtain information in the form of printouts diskettes, floppies, tapes, video cassettes or in any other electronic mode or through printouts. 3. WHO CAN ASK FOR INFORMATION ? Subject to the provisions of the Act, all citizens have the right to information. Since as per the Act information can be furnished only to citizens of India, the applicant for request will have to give citizen status. The applicant for request should also give contact details (postal address, telephone number, Fax number, e-mail address) 4. WHICH INFORMATION IS EXEMPT FROM DISCLOSURE ? The Act provides under Sections 8 and 9, certain categories of information that are exempt from disclosure to the citizens. The citizens may therefore, refer to the aforesaid sections of the Act before submitting a request for information. 5. PROCEDURE FOR REQUEST FOR INFORMATION: A request seeking information shall be made to Central Public Information Officer in writing or through electronic means in English or Hindi or in the Official Language of the area in which application is made, specifying the particulars of information sought for along with the prescribed fee. Reasonable assistance shall be rendered to reduce the oral request to writing. 1 6. PAYMENT OF PRESCRIBED FEE: 6.1 A request for obtaining information under sub-section (1) of Section 6 shall be accompanied by an application fee of rupees ten by way of cash against proper receipt or by demand draft or bankers cheque payable to the Bank. 6.2 For providing the information under sub-section (1) of Section 7, the fee shall be charged by way of cash against proper receipt or by demand draft or bankers cheque payable to the Bank at the following rates :- rupees two for each page (in A4 or A3 size paper) created or copied : actual charge or cost price of a copy in larger size paper actual cost or price for samples or models; and for inspection of records, no fee for the first hour and a fee of rupees five for each subsequent hour (or fraction thereof) 6.2 For providing the information under sub-section (5) of Section 7 the fee shall be charged by way of cash against proper receipt or by demand draft or bankers cheque payable to the Bank at the following rates :- For information provided in diskette or floppy rupees fifty per diskette or floppy : and For information provided in printed form at the price fixed for such publication or rupees two per page of photocopy for extracts from the publication. 6.3 If further fees representing the cost of providing information is determined, then the same will be intimated in writing with calculation details of how the amount has been arrived at. 6.4 Exemption for payment of Application Fee and cost of expenditure incurred in providing the information, in certain cases. Applicants who are below poverty line are exempted. The information shall be provided free of charge, if the PIO fails to comply with the specified time limit 2 7. TIME TO PROVIDE THE INFORMATION: 7.1 Within 48 hours from the receipt of request where the information concerns the life or liberty of a person. 7.2 Within 30 days from the receipt of request. 7.3 Within 40 days if the interest of a third party is involved. 8. PROCESSING OF REQUEST AND GROUNDS FOR REJECTION IN CERTAIN CASES : 8.1 The PIO shall process the request for providing the information and dispose of the same either by providing the information or rejecting the request within the time. 8.2 Public Information Officer may reject a Request for information where such a request for providing access would involve an infringement of copyright subsisting in a person other than the State. 8.3 PARTIAL DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION: Access may be provided to that part of the record, which does not contain any information, which is exempt from disclosure, and which can reasonably be severed from any part that contains exempt information. 9. THE STRUCTURE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICERS IN BANK 9.1 The following Official is designated as Chief Public Information Officer: Shri M.G. Kesralikar, Chief Manager Maharashtra Gramin Bank, Head Office, CIDCO, Aurangabad 9.2 The following Official is designated as Appellate Authority: Shri S.S. Wagh, Chief General Manager Maharashtra Gramin Bank, Head Office, CIDCO, Aurangabad 3 9.3 WHAT IF NOT SATISFIED WITH THE DECISION OF THE CPIO ? 9.4 First appeal to the Appellate Authority of the Bank against order of CPIO. 9.5 Second Appeal to Central Information commission appointed in terms of chapter 3 of the Act against the orders of appellate authority. ❖❖❖❖❖ 4 RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT Section 4 (1) (b) (i) : The particulars of organization, functions and duties Maharashtra Gramin Bank is established under Regional Rural Bank Act 1976 (21st of 1976) passed by Parliament. The Bank has its Head Office at CIDCO, Aurangabad-431003 and Regional Offices at Nanded, Parbhani, Beed, Latur, Aurangabad and Thane with Two General Manager Office at Aurangabad. Recent Historical Background of the Bank : Maharashtra Gramin Bank came in to existence on 20th July 2009 after amalgamation of erstwhile Marathawada Gramin Bank and Maharashtra Godavari Gramin Bank as per Government of India Notification. The area of operation allotted by Government of India contains 17 districts Viz, Nanded, Parbhani, Hingoli, Latur, Osmanabad, Beed, Jalna, Aurangabad, Jalgaon, Nandurbar, Dhule, Nashik, Ahmednagar, Pune, Thane, Palghar, Raigad The erstwhile Marathawada Gramin Bank was established on 26th August 1976 having area of operation of 07 districts viz. Nanded, Parbhani, Hingoli, Latur, Beed, Osmanabad and Pune. The erstwhile Maharashtra Godavari Gramin Bank was amalgamated entity (as on 25.03.2008 ) of erstwhile Aurangabad Jalna Gramin Bank and erstwhile Thane Gramin Bank having area of operation of 9 districts viz. Aurangabad, Jalna, Thane, Ahmednagar, Jalgaon, Dhule, Nandurbar, Raigad & Nasik. The erstwhile Aurangabad Jalna Gramin Bank was established on 07.12.1982 having area of operation of Aurangabad and Jalna district whereas erstwhile Thane Gramin Bank was established on 30.03.1986 having area of operation of Thane district. The broad function of the Bank are acceptance of deposits from public as per the norms prescribed by the RBI, Government of India for lending and investment and rendering of services to customers such as collection of cheques, issue of Demand Drafts, Mail Transfer, Lockers, ATMs, etc. i.e. all banking facilities. Maharashtra Gramin Bank is established with a view to developing the rural economy by providing; for the purpose of development of Agriculture, Trade, Commerce, Industry and other productive activity in rural area, credit and other facilities particularly to Small Farmers/ Medium Farmers/ Allied Activity/ Rural Artisans and Small Entrepreneurs for the matter connected these with and incidental there to 5 OWNERSHIP OF MAHARASHTRA GRAMIN BANK: In term of Section 6 of RRB Act 1976, the Central Government, Sponsor Bank and State Government have subscribed to Share Capital of the Bank in the ratio 50:35:15. The Act has spelt out roles of different owners. GOVERNMENT OF INDIA : As per RRB Act 1976 Central Government subscribe to share capital of 50% has absolute powers, right from incorporation of Maharashtra Gramin Bank. Two directors appointed by Government of India on the Board of RRB. Notifying various rules and regulations for board meeting, appointment and promotions, staff regulations, determining remuneration and service condition of the staff and officers, appointing auditors and fixation of their remuneration, giving direction to Bank on policy matters involving public interest amalgamation of RRBs and notification thereof and placing the working results/ activities of RRBs both Houses of Parliament. As per the provisions of the RRB Act 1976, RBI represents the Government of India on the Board of Maharashtra Gramin Bank. SPONSOR BANK (BANK OF MAHARASHTRA) : As per section 2 (9) of RRB Act 1976, the Sponsor Bank of Maharashtra Gramin Bank is Bank of Maharashtra. Bank of Maharashtra subscribe to 35% of the equity. The Bank of Maharashtra has to aid Maharashtra Gramin Bank by providing management and financial assistance. Bank of Maharashtra also appoint Chairman from among their own Officers and nominate two directors to the Board of Maharashtra Gramin Bank and depute such number of Officers and employees as may be necessary for smooth functioning of Gramin Bank. The Sponsor Bank provided refinance support to Gramin Bank and help in maintaining liquidity 6 Section 4 (1) (b) II. The Powers and Duties of its Officers & Employees DELEGATION OF LENDING POWERS : The Bank has a well laid-down system of delegation of lending powers to be exercised by various functionaries depending upon their scale, with operative guidelines given to exercise the delegated powers. Branch Managers heading the branches including Officers of Scale I to Scale IV and at Regional Office headed by Regional Manager Scale IV. At Head Office level powers are given to Chief Manager Advances, General Manager and Chairman.